Method for gravel packing



Oct. 10, 1944. w. A. CLARK METHOD FOR'GRAVEL PACKING Filed April 8, 1941 FEGZ FEGJ

ZONE

WILUAM A. CLARK- ATTORNEY the upper imperforate portion of the liner. The

liner is also preferably provided with a spring guide means 26 secured to its peripheryso as to center it during the lowering operation.

a string of tubing 28 is run into the well, the lower end of the string passing between the upper end of the liner and the casing and extending downwardly to a point near the bottom of the hole. The covermember 22 prevents the tubing from entering the liner. Gravel is then pumped into the hole through the tubing 28, and as the gravelfills the annular space l2 between the liner and the walls of the cavity, the tubing string is gradually withdrawn so as to keep the lower end of the string slightly above the level V of the deposited gravel. After the gravel has reached a point below the upper end of the liner l8, but above the lower end of the casing H the pumping is stopped and the tubing string 28 pulled from the hole. A packing device, such as a slip-on adapter 30 is then run into the hole and slipped over the top of the liner I8. This serves as a centering device for the upper end of the liner and also to close the annular space between the liner and the casing. After the adapter has been set, means such as a small overshot may be run on a wireline andattached to a suitable projection 32 on the bonnet of the closure member 22, after which the closure member is pulled out,

} leaving the well in condition for production.

10 After the liner 18 has been placed in the hole,

1. The method of completing a well having 5"" cavity in a producing formation below a, string of casing and a perforated liner in said cavity, said liner being covered at its upper end, which comprises forcing granular material through a string of tubing extending downwardly through said casing and between said liner and said easing into said cavity while gradually raising the tubing until the gravel fills the cavity, removing the tubing string, sealing the space between the upper end of the liner and the casing and uncovering the upper end of the liner.

2. The method of placing granular material in the space at the bottom of a bore hole below the casing so as to form a filter pack around a perforated liner, which comprises closing the upper end of said liner, lowering a string of tubing into the hole until its lower end is near the bottom of the hole opposite the lower end of said liner, forcing the granular material down through said tubing so asto fill the space around the liner while raising said tubing string so as to maintain its bottom end above the upper level of the granular material being deposited until the upper level of said material has reached a point/above the perforations in the liner, removingj said tubing string, closing the space between the upper end of said liner and said casing, and uncovering said liner.

WILLIAM AQCLARK. 

